Season's Greetings!

As we approach the festive holidays, I would like us to pause and reflect on the spirit of Christmas. For me as a non-Christian who celebrates the festivities in respect of the occasion rather than as a religious festival, Christmas is a time to renew our commitment to peace: peace in our personal lives, peace in our communities, peace in the world. It is a time of hope: hope for a new beginning, hope for a better way of life, hope for a brighter future.

As we look back on the year 2014, let us not allow the individual or collective challenges we may have experienced cause us to lose hope. 2014 has also brought individual challenges to many who suffered the loss of loved ones, illness or some other personal challenge or disappointment. I wish for them strength and resolve and hope that they find that in our GCFE community they can rely on colleagues’ camaraderie and generosity of spirit to help them deal with both personal and professional challenges.

It is during our more difficult times that we urgently need to recall both the symbolism and the reality of the Christmas message and the Christmas spirit. That spirit includes the great joys we have experienced this year, despite the challenges.

During my first 6 months as Chief Exec and Principal of GCFE, I have experienced this joy in countless ways and in innumerable kindnesses. There have been many occasions where I have been moved and inspired by the goodness and determination of my colleagues and the impact that this has had on our learners. There have been many more occasions where I was touched by the commitment that our learners have shown to their personal and professional development and how they value the work we do at GCFE.

During 2014 we have had many opportunities to celebrate our successes. Occasions such as awards ceremonies, end of year shows, and many more events which showcased our dedication to our profession and the services we provide.

Over the last year it has been almost a daily occurrence where I observed ordinary heroes do extraordinary things, not for recognition or reward. You do these things because they are the natural outpouring of hearts flowing with generosity in response to your sense of duty and care for the work you do for and with GCFE and for the success of our learners. It is a blessing to have such dedicated colleagues and I feel privileged to be part of the team.

To all of you I express my admiration for all that you do at our College and for our customers as a whole. We move forward in the spirit of one GCFE, one Team for 2015, with unwavering resolve to become an outstanding College, creating brighter futures. I thank you for the work you do in order to make our promise and vision a reality. For the way you live with PRIDE at GCFE and the way you enrich our learners’ lives today and nurture a better future for the communities we serve as a result.

I would like to especially acknowledge and express gratitude for the extraordinary work of my Colleagues on Senior Management Team. We have embarked on our pathway to excellence during difficult financial times and many challenges CFE faces. Members of SMT have been instrumental in shaping our plans for the future and we will be working together in implementation of these plans as they firm up.

It would be remiss of me not to extend my heartfelt thanks to my trusty Executive Assistant Laura Le Maitre without whom I would be literally lost! Her cheery disposition, can do attitude and efficiency has been a great source of reassurance to me. It has been a great pleasure working with Laura and I will continue to rely on her support over the next year.

As we approach 2015, I remain positive that with hard work, dedication and commitment, which is evident in every single one of you, we will be able to sail our good ship GCFE to safer shores of greater sustainability and more positive outcomes for all. We remain focused on our values by Putting our students first, Rewarding relationships, Inspiring people, Delivering excellent service and Exceeding expectations. We will continue to push the bar higher for improved quality of our provision and an enhanced experience for our learners. There is still so much to be done on our journey to excellence. However, we end this year with great pride for a job well done and with the determination to continue with the good work in the New Year. As always I rely on your feedback, your views and continual dialogue so that we can do what we do best, better.

Both the Senior Management team and the Board of Governors join me in wishing each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

I look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year.

Saboohi Famili

Chief Executive and Principal

COUTANCHEZ NEWS

It has been a busy start to the year in the IT Department with 59 full time students across Levels 2 & 3.

The IT Department 15th Annual Alumni Christmas Meal is being held tonight and will be attended by past and present Level 3 Year 2 Students.

Kees Jansen and Peter de Sousa who moved to Portsmouth University to study Software Engineering from September 2015 popped in to the Department to pay for their Christmas Meals and to provide a progress update on their studies which they are thoroughly enjoying.

Kees has recently been successful in winning a coding competition hosted by Portsmouth University and walked away with an Asus 7 Tablet, in fact it was a bit of a Channel Islands landslide with a student from Jersey securing 2nd place and Peter De Sousa also on the podium in 3rd winning a Java Coding book worth £68.

Kees was pleased to comment that “It felt like the BTEC Level 3 IT course was designed to set you up for University” “he has found the transition easy as the studies naturally lead on from what he has done at the College of Further Education” and that the only new experiences are living in the city and being at Uni.

He feels that “He was better prepared than other students on his course as he already had much of the knowledge of subjects that they were studying in the first year of their degree”

This is excellent news and students considering going to University should take note that vocational courses prepare you for the transition into higher education – speak to Kees or Peter if you have any doubts!

In addition to this we are sorry to say that Steve Potter despite his youthful looks turns the big 60 this December and is retiring – he has been part and parcel of the College for the last 15 years – we will miss his valuable input, and excellent manner with the students and wish him a very long and happy retirement.

Congratulations to Scott Armstrong and Sades Waenlor two of our IT students who both were recipients of a prize for their entries in the inaugural cross-college creative writing competition. They both attended a prize-giving event at the offices of AO Hall to collect their prize. I understand that they both represented the college wonderfully. Scott's winning entry was noted for its dark ending which our partners at AO Hall found captivating, whilst Sades’ winning entry was praised for its quality.

The Year 2 Level 3 ICT students were fortunate to have a visit from Carl Ceillam of ChainCI to give a demonstration of forensic analysis.

Carl is the Islands foremost security authority in the area of analysing data that may later have to be used in court of law. This could be data held on computer disks, email or USB sticks. The ChainCI has performed security assignments for some of the world’s largest organisations, as well as many local businesses. Carl was able to demonstrate the specialist tools and procedures involved and give many real world examples of his craft.

Carl brought along one of his colleagues, Karl Cicmic, who had previously completed the same ICT course and has now got a job at the ChainCI as an IT security professional.

May I take this opportunity to wish you are your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year.

John Norman

Assistant Principal

DELANCEY NEWS

A quiet week at Delancey……….well, apart from:

Sports students beating the Sixth Form 7-0 in a handball fixture. Health & Early Years students supporting Christmas parties and activities across their placements in the childcare and care home settings that they have worked in throughout this term. Access students producing fantastic gifts for sale at their Christmas Fayre. Creative students gave a very successful presentation to Creative Industries Guernsey (see letters of praise attached).

Martin is delighted to announce that in early 2015 there will the launch of The Creative Production House. A one stop shop for promotional films, event recording, moving image for web and social media etc. Details of how your Programme Area can engage in the simple commissioning process to promote, highlight and extend the public facing image of student success in your department will follow soon.

Boot Camp!!: Matt is starting sessions in the new year to help all of us fight the ravages of Christmas over-indulgence!! (poster attached). Starting the second week of term, opportunities exist for all staff and students to get involved so please contact him for more details. He holds the key that will unlock the new you!!!

Kate Ferris (Roberts) bid us all a fond farewell this week. Kate is moving on to pastures new and we take this opportunity to thank her for all the hard work and commitment that she has shown in supporting the young people she has worked with. The Level 1 Care students that Kate tutors threw her a lovely farewell party this week and amongst the tears of sadness at seeing her go there were lots of happy faces as Kate shared some of her thoughts of all the fun they have had this term. I am sure Kate will visit us in the near future and we wish her the best.

Jeff Stuart

Acting Assistant Principal

Wonderful Creative+ team - very proud!

An email exchange to be proud of :)

From Jay Almer Managing Director SOUP to Martin Purvis

Can’t wait to see the results… I genuinely think what you guys do at the College is amazing! If you ever want someone to come in and help on anything or showcase something, please fire me an email as it would be a joy. In a selfish way, I’d much rather give a job to a talented CofFE Guernsey lad, that import / poach from another agency.

From Martin to Jay

This excellent commission really extended and challenged the students, delighted that the results have pleased all involved; and thank you for your kind comments regarding the Creative area.

Tomorrow the students will be responding to the further challenges set and will produce a production plan.

Will distribute the design and planning by friday latest.

From Jay to Martin

I have to say, I was massively impressed with what the students came up with. I thought the final chosen design is really, really clever and also sits with exactly what Joachim Sauter works within. With that said, I also loved the headline of one of the other students and the photography project was truly beautiful.

Very impressive what's coming out of the College.

LOC NEWS

We’ve made it! We’ve all managed to get through the term relatively unscathed! Thanks to everyone for their hard work and dedication to our learners. I know it has been a demanding 14 weeks and here’s hoping we get all get a restful break!

Admin Presentation Evening

The current Administration group organised a fantastic Certificate Presentation Evening for previous students on the Level 2 and Level 2/3 Administration, held in the restaurant at the Coutanchez campus.

It was a lovely turnout with family and friends along to support the successful students, and Louise Misselke presenting the certificates. Our current sponsors for Student of the Year awards are Mourant Ozannes for the Administration Level 2/3 group, and PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Administration Level 2 group. As always, we are really grateful for their support and involvement.

On behalf of Mourant Ozannes, Rob Shepherd presented the Level 2/3 award to April Walker, who is currently working at Saffery Champness as a Trainee Compliance Officer. He made particular mention of how impressed he was with the range of qualifications and the extremely high success rate for employment these courses had. On behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Audrey O’Neill presented the Level 2 award to Georgia Sales, currently working at NedGroup.

Congratulations therefore goes to April and Georgia – but also to all the students from last year, who achieved some fantastic qualifications and lifelong skills. All in all it was a lovely evening and great to hear all the success stories!

Panic Stations

All our Business studies students have been beavering away all week to meet their assignment deadlines as this week has been assignment week, there’s been a few panics, but most of them have met the deadline…..and are looking forward to the Carole Service today.

Preparing to Progress

Alison’s first “Preparing to Progress” Programme run for the States of Guernsey finished this week. This programme is for aspiring managers/supervisors. In the final sessions the students presented project work to a small panel: their line manager, Lisa Ingrouille and Alison, as well as the rest of their cohort. Alison noted the panel were very impressed by the high standards of the delegates’ work, and made the following comments: “I was really impressed by your commitment and energy”, “Excellent ideas” , “High quality and standards of presentations”. We are hoping for a 2nd cohort next term.

Scratching Party

LOC staff had their scratching party last night! This is an annual event, a legacy of Brock Road days. All the staff buy 5 lottery tickets each and then scratch them to see if we’ve won an instant prize. We also had a secret Santa and a few nibbles. So if the LOC phones go unanswered today you know we’ve won the lottery!

Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas holiday

Jane Le Poidevin

Assistant Principal

Our lovely Admin students of the year!

Students and sponsors

Scratching Party

Our lovely Admin students of the year!

Students and sponsors

Scratching Party

GMTA Awards 2014

GMTA Awards 2014

GMTA Awards 2014

The Motor vehicle department held there annual apprentice of the year awards Wednesday lunchtime. This is a Guernsey Motor Traders Association sponsored event for the best improver of the year for each apprentice year group. Representatives of the motor trade, collage staff and of course the winning students were all present at the prize giving which took place in the future chef’s restaurant. Each winner received a trophy and a tool voucher worth £100 from their sponsor. Ian gave a short talk, giving a review of the last year and then introduced each of the winners. They were presented with their prises by the sponsors and then taken down to the workshop for some photos by the Guernsey press. Ian was also interviewed by the press.

Eileen's Parking Tuition School

Spotted by Steve Bacon

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree!

On Saturday the 20th of December the Performing Arts students will be wrapping up warm, putting on their best Christmas jumpers and heading into town to perform some much loved Christmas songs for the shoppers.

So, of you fancy getting a healthy dose of Christmas cheer (and possibly even singing along to some of your favourites) then come on down and enjoy the show!

Message of Appreciation to all States Employees

It has been a long tradition that the Senior Member of the States of Deliberation, Mother of the House (MoTH) currently Deputy Mary Lowe, passes on ‘Seasons Greetings’ to His Excellency and the Bailiff.

This year the MoTH wanted to break with tradition and also pass on a public message of ‘Seasons Greetings and appreciation to all States employee’s. This message was conveyed in the States meeting sitting on the 11th December 2014. Most staff would not have heard the Christmas message, however it reads as follows:

“As 'Mother of the House' it falls upon me to offer Christmas Greetings on behalf of States Members to the Bailiff and His Excellency & Mrs Walker. I also wanted to ensure a public message went out to all States employees to wish them a Happy Christmas and thank them for all their support and help to States members throughout 2014”

Caritas Community Cafe

Caritas Community Cafe

Puddings!

Above pictures show the College's donation to Caritas Community Café of Christmas puddings and Sticky toffee puddings made by our catering students.

The charity (under the watchful eyes of its’ founder Rev Richard Bellinger) aims to establish a residential community which welcomes, supports and nourishes young adults in difficulty, in the youth justice system, in distress of need, working with the land to grow self-esteem and change lifestyles.

As a community college we are pleased to support (now and in the future) a local charity where we can.

Fab!

Drab

Coutanchez

Student election results may not give a fair result as the email sent from student services does not alway sinclude the voting battons, so some students are unable to vote for their chosen representative. - Voting day was Thursday only, and clear instructions were included, that the only day to vote was Thursday and that this one email sent on Thursday was the one to be used for voting. Details of the results will be given in January. An overwhelming number of students did vote.

IDEAS & QUESTIONS

Coutanchez

Why only milk in the staff room fridge? Where can we keep our sandwiches chilled? Could we have a staff fridge?

When are we going to get some pictures in the Goldfish Bowl, it looks like a hospital waiting room!

Need Admin help and support?

Need to finish typing up that document? Need help preparing a report or spreadsheet? Require a mailshot to all of your students? Make use of the College's newly established enthusiastic & energetic Admin Support Team, use this email adminsupport@gcfe.net